CBOT March 2023 soybeans with 20-, 50- and 100-day moving averages. (Barchart)

U.S. grains: Soy futures weak, corn firm

Wheat mixed ahead of weekend

Chicago | Reuters — U.S. soybean futures fell on Friday on expectations that recent rains in Argentina boosted crop potential from that key South American exporter, traders said. Wheat futures were mixed, with the most-active Chicago Board of Trade soft red winter wheat contract sagging on position squaring after notching its biggest weekly gain in […] Read more

File photo of a pedestrian crossing in front of the World Trade Organization headquarters in Geneva, Switzerland on Dec. 9, 2019. (Photo: Reuters/Denis Balibouse)

U.S. wants WTO dispute system fixed by 2024

Appeals body frozen since Trump era; Washington 'very committed' to reform

Geneva | Reuters — The United States is entering a third phase of talks with countries to reform the World Trade Organization’s (WTO) hobbled trade dispute arbitration system and aims for it to be “fully functioning” by the end of 2024, the U.S. ambassador to the WTO told Reuters on Thursday. The WTO’s appeals bench, […] Read more


(Photo courtesy Canada Beef Inc.)

Feed weekly outlook: Barley, wheat prices continue downward

Oats, canola meal also bound for feedlots

MarketsFarm — As colder temperatures descend onto the Prairies, buying activity for feed barley and wheat was just as frigid. “A lot of guys are fairly caught up with purchasing,” said Mike Fleischhauer of Eagle Commodities Inc. in Lethbridge. “You see the prices of wheat and barley start to trickle down a little bit. Corn’s […] Read more

CBOT March 2023 soft red winter wheat with 20-, 50- and 100-day moving averages. (Barchart)

U.S. grains: Wheat, soy, corn up on strong export report

South America crop progress limits corn, soy gains

Chicago | Reuters — U.S. wheat, corn and soybeans jumped on Thursday on support from a government report that showed strong overseas demand for all three commodities, traders said. “We had some decent export sales compared to what we have seen the last few weeks and that trend, particularly for corn and wheat, is likely […] Read more


Siddika Mithani — shown here in an illustration from a series of “superhero trading cards” published in 2022 featuring CFIA researchers and staff — has retired from her post as CFIA president. (CFIA via Twitter)

CFIA president retires

NFU calls for next agency boss to prevent 'regulatory capture'

Canada’s federal regulator for the food and animal and plant health sectors is in the market for a new president following the incumbent’s retirement. The Canadian Food Inspection Agency has confirmed its president, Dr. Siddika Mithani, has retired from the federal public service effective Jan. 20. Mithani has led CFIA since February 2019, having served […] Read more

The Mosaic Co. potash mine at Colonsay, Sask., southeast of Saskatoon. (MosaicInCanada.com)

Mosaic says stockpiles too high to restart Saskatchewan mine

Company expects Russia, Belarus 2023 potash exports at 2022 level

Winnipeg | Reuters — Fertilizer producer Mosaic Co. does not currently see the right market conditions to restart its idled Saskatchewan potash mine, with high inventories in the U.S. and Brazil and cold weather slowing trains from Canada, CEO Joc O’Rourke said Wednesday. Mosaic curtailed potash production in December at its Colonsay, Sask. mine, but […] Read more


CBOT March 2023 soft red winter wheat with 20-day moving average (green line), MGEX March 2023 hard red spring wheat (yellow line) and K.C. March 2023 hard red winter wheat (orange line). (Barchart)

U.S. grains: Wheat futures rise on Ukraine war concerns

March corn sags, March soybeans up

Chicago | Reuters — U.S. wheat futures rose on Wednesday on concerns that any intensification of Russia’s war on Ukraine could clog the export pipeline from those two major exporters. “I think the market is trying to price in an increasing likelihood that an escalation … turns into a European theatre war,” said Mike Zuzolo, […] Read more

CBOT March 2023 soft red winter wheat with 20-day moving average (green line), MGEX March 2023 hard red spring wheat (yellow line) and K.C. March 2023 hard red winter wheat (orange line), (Barchart)

U.S. grains: Chicago wheat, corn climb after weather pressure

Investor optimism on economy helps underpin grains

Chicago | Reuters — Chicago wheat and corn futures firmed on Tuesday, supported by investor optimism after easing a day earlier on precipitation in both Argentina and the U.S. Plains. Soybean futures began the day firmer but failed to maintain support as forecasts in South America call for more rain. The most-active wheat contract on […] Read more


File photo of a combine at work during a harvest in Germany. (Abadonian/iStock/Getty Images)

Germany considering withdrawal from crop-based biofuels by 2030

Lawmakers seek to boost biofuel made from wastes

Hamburg | Reuters — Germany’s government is considering proposals to phase out the use of biofuels produced from food or animal feed crops by 2030, the German biofuels industry association (VDB) said on Tuesday, adding the measure could increase carbon emissions. German environment minister Steffi Lemke said Jan. 17 she will soon send proposals to […] Read more

(Thinkstock photo)

Prairie cash wheat: Prices step back

U.S. wheat futures down on week

MarketsFarm — Wheat prices declined on the Canadian Prairies during the week ended Thursday, as a stronger Canadian dollar and losses in the U.S. wheat complex weighed on values. Pressure came from expanded all-wheat acres to be planted in the United States, 48.84 million expected in 2023 versus the 45.7 million planted in 2022. The […] Read more